DANBURY, CT - Six members of the Utica University football team have been named to All-ECAC teams, as announced by the league last week. 

First Team | Bryce Palmer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Wide Reciever
Palmer ranked first in most of the Empire 8 receiving categories during his senior season, leading the league in receptions (91 - 17 more than 2nd), receiving yards (1026 - 159 more than 2nd), and placing second in receiving touchdowns with 11. Palmer was consistent in the Pioneers' offensive gameplan all season long, hauling in 8.3 receptions per game and gathering 93.3 receiving yards per game despite being double-covered in nearly every matchup.  Palmer also ranked high nationally in many different areas following the regular season, sitting 10th in receptions, 26th in receiving yards, and tied for 16th in receiving touchdowns. Following his performance in the Pioneers' Bushnell Bowl matchup, the team's star wide receiver captured the conference's single-season receptions record and single-season receptions per game record, taking down the pair of records that were once held by Pioneer great Jerred Beniquez. The VVS grad has career marks of 117 receptions, 1,406 yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns. 

First Team | Logan Frederick (Little Falls, NY/Little Falls), Tight End
Frederick slotted in as one of the best, if not the clear best, tight ends in all of Division III Football this season, putting up insane numbers from his position to become one of the biggest offensive threats in the Empire 8. He was named an All-Empire 8 First Team selection and also received All-Region II First Team honors. He ranked second in the Empire 8 for receptions (74) and first for receiving touchdowns (12) during his senior season, despite being ranked among the conference's top receivers. Frederick's numbers were so immaculate for a player from his position that he managed to be named to the D3football.com Team of the Week three separate times during the season, cementing his status as a top-tier tight end in all of Division III Football. His ability to accrue yards after the catch saw him become one of the best players in the Empire 8 after the catch, deftly evading defenders and using his large stature to gain extra yards on nearly every reception. Frederick also got it done in the classroom, being named the Empire 8's top scholar athlete among the top teams in the league. Frederick posted the highest cumulative GPA of the top schools in the Empire 8, earning him the prestigious honor. All of these honors are the first in his career. 

First Team | ADante Bianchino (Albany, NY/Shaker), Offensive Line
Bianchino stood out amongst a Pioneer offensive line that did not allow a sack for the entire rest of the season following their week five tilt against Cortland. The offensive line's ability to keep the pocket clean is a major factor in the Pioneers' offensive success this season, with their powerful passing numbers being a product of a clean pocket for a majority of the season. Bianchino has been a big part of this success, helping lead a unit that was even recognized as Division III's best during the final week of the regular season, with the entire offensive line being named to the D3football.com Team of the Week. Bianchino also picked up an All-Empire 8 Second Team honor in addition to his All-Region recognition. 

First Team | Eli Douglas (Ausable Forks, NY/Ausable Valley), Safety
Douglas turned in another impressive campaign from his position in the Pioneer secondary. He gained conference recognition for the second straight season as he jumped to the first team for the first time in his career. The Pioneers' senior leader put up insane numbers for a safety during the regular season, ranking second on the team in tackles with 62, while also leading the team in interceptions and pass breakups with six each. He ranked third in the conference for passes defended with 12, while also leading the league with his six interceptions. His 78-yard pick-six during the regular season finale was the longest such play by any Empire 8 team this season. Douglas currently has career marks of 196 tackles, 33 passes defended, and 14 interceptions, which place him third on the program's career interception chart. Douglas' pick-six against Brockport extended his program-best career pick-six mark, as the senior now has four interception return touchdowns. Douglas was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week and selected as the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week once each during 2025, and adds the AP All-American honor and First Team All-Empire 8 honor to last year's second team All-Empire 8 honor and first team All-ECAC honor. 

Second Team | Tyler Szalkowski (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute), Quarterback
Szalkowski had a legendary campaign during his debut season for the orange and blue, dominating the conference's passing charts as he topped numerous categories including completions (285 - 122 more than 2nd), passing yards (3,638 - 1,632 more than 2nd), passing touchdowns (33 - 15 more than 2nd), completion percentage (67.7%), passing efficiency (162.8), and passing yards per game (330.7). Szalkowski broke the single-game passing yards program record in his first-ever matchup for the Pioneers, racking up 528 yards in the first game of the season against Washington and Jefferson. He kept up this pace throughout the entire campaign, recently breaking the single-season passing yards program record during his last matchup. Szalkowski adds the second team nod to a laundry list of accolades as the 2025 Empire 8 Player of the Year, a three-time Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week honoree, and a one-time D3football.com Team of the Week and D3football.com Game Ball recipient 

Second Team | Devin Taylor (New Port Richey, FL/Wendell Krinn Technical), Punter
Taylor was a focal point of the Pioneers' gameplan each week, with his ability to instantly flip the field being a useful asset for a team with a tenacious defense like the blue and orange. Taylor led the league in yards per punt with a 42.67 average, also setting a new single-season program record in the process. His five punts of 50 or more yards tied for the league lead, while he also managed to take home an Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week honor during the regular season.